In a yearly state of the city address May 4, Pflugerville Mayor Victor Gonzales recapped major efforts from the last year and provided insight on projects to come.

His speech covered an array of topics, from city services to tax rates to development projects.

The main points

• The city is making an effort to keep up with demand for water and wastewater, most recently though breaking ground on a $144 million expansion to its central water treatment plant.
• Officials are hard at work finalizing the details for Downtown East, a 29-acre development at the northwest corner of FM 685 and East Pecan Street that will include a new city hall and recreation center. City Council approved an exclusive negotiating agreement for the project in March.
• A priority for the city as it expands is minimizing the impact on taxpayers. Gonzales said one way to do this is by prioritizing commercial and industrial developments, which can bring in large amounts of property tax revenue.

By the numbers

The Pflugerville Community Development Corp. reports bringing in six commercial and industrial development projects so far this year, including MoboTrex and Wisenbaker Builder Services. In total, those projects are expected to bring the city:

• 440 jobs with an average salary of $84,000; and
• $663 million in taxes and capital investment.

Quote of note: "We've got a lot for which to be proud of, from our financial strength to our significant financial improvements on the way to the programs and services that make 'where quality meets life' a reality," Gonzales said. "Pflugerville continues to move in the right direction."